What is the EPC contractor?

This project partner is primarily responsible for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the plant. This usually includes selecting the suppliers of solar modules, inverters and other key items of equipment; and finalising and underwriting the final design and output projections for the plant.

While fulfilling the role of prime contractor, many EPCs will in turn appoint sub-contractors to handle much of the construction work; typically divided between mechanical and electrical activities.

The EPC contractor is usually appointed by the project developer or the owner (though a company may fulfil more than one of these roles).

Basis of the data used

The data used for the analysis and the table on the left is derived from operating projects of 4MWAC+ on the Wiki-Solar Database, according to these criteria.

EPC contractors are identified against 28% of the operating capacity on the Wiki-Solar Database (of which these top 26 account for 24%). The total capacity for contractors listed may therefore be on average 3 to 4 times that identified here (though a number have confirmed details of their portfolio to Wiki-Solar).

Because capacity is included in these figures only when the plant is connected, the total capacity now fully and partly constructed by many of those listed will be higher.

Some contractors in this list also fulfil other roles in utility-scale projects. The figures quoted here apply only to their construction activities. Where companies have maps, however, these will show all their projects.

EPC contractor

The project participant primarily responsible for the construction of the solar generating station